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Abstract

The need to establish a more sustainable design for everyday items and for people to live a more sustainably led lifestyle is evident around the world. As office and residential building, schools, and infrastructure become more sustainably built, there is no doubt that other fields will soon follow. The sporting domain needs to be the next step in sustainable design. Sport stadia can and will play a vital role in increasing sustainability awareness across the world. There is an enormous opportunity to have stadia serve as trendsetters in innovative thinking for sustainable design.

This research shows that there are numerous areas where sport stadium design could pioneer growth within the sustainability movement; specifically, how some sport stadia currently implement sustainability initiatives, including renewable energy, and opportunities for further sustainable design and operation. Many stadia, which are only used a handful of times a year, can be utilized to harvest sustainable energy for daily upkeep and sell the excess energy to the grid, helping support the local community. This paper depicts, through research and quantifiable data, the current use of rain water and other collection methods for non-potable water needs, and new opportunities to further increase rain water collection for the benefit of the community. It also discusses the chances to increase recycling and composting programs. Lastly and most critically, this work suggests several other innovative sustainable measures which, with new and upcoming technologies, can be implemented into any stadium.

All of these measures will positively impact the neighboring communities. Not only can a sustainably built stadium help protect the earth’s natural resources; it can be a building block for a community to follow. The funding for many stadia comes from the surrounding community, so it is essential that the stadium be designed, built, and operated to best support the community. The research and analysis in this paper will show several methods to execute such a stadium. A sustainably built structure that supports and promotes this bond is the ultimate gift to current citizens and future generations alike.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/2164-0866.3.1.1020

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